Safety carrier for fire extinguishers



April 17, 1951 H. c. FOWLE 2,54%,680

SAFETY CARRIER FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Filed April 21, 1949 2Sheets-Sheet 1 3a IN VEN TOR.

Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY CARRIER FORFIRE EXTINGUISHERS Harvey C. Fowle, Cleveland, Ohio Application April21, 1949, Serial No. 88,835 V like, for supporting a fire extinguishersuch as commonly used as a part of the equipment of the vehicle, forputting out fires in case of emergency.

At the present time, tank trucks are usually supplied, when properprecautions are taken, with a carrier or holder in the form of a;stationary cradle member attached securely to the chassis of the truck,the fire extinguisher being supported on said cradle member and held inplace by fastening straps which must be unloosened or unfastened beforethe operator of the vehicle can pull the fire extinguisher away from thecradle and make the same ready for use. It has been found in practicalexperience that not infrequently a truck, the tank of which is filledwith highly inflammable liquid gets on fire so quickly that considerabletime is lost in demounting the fire extinguisher from the cradlecustomarily used, so as to render the extinguisher operable for itspurpose. Moreover, in the ordinary form of holder or carrier used today,the operator has -to reach in some distance from the side of the chassisor frame of the vehicle on which the extinguisher is mounted, before hecan unfasten the fastening means and thus detach the extinguisher tomake it ready for use.

With the foregoing disadvantages of present equipment understood, theprimary object of my present improved construction of safety carrier hasbeen to utilize a special type of cradle for supporting the fireextinguisher, which cradle includes a movably mounted cradle membernormally associated with a stationary cradle member so as to enable thefire extinguisher to be supported between these two members againstnormal displacement. In my invention I design the movable cradle memberin such a manner that it may be rocked outwardly from the adjacent sideof the chassis of the vehicle by the use of a manually operated handle,the said handle being not only adapted to perform the above function,but also adapted simultaneously when pulled outwardly to unlock themovable,

cradle member and swing the'latter-downwardly 9 Claims. (01. 248-309) toa substantially horizontal position with the.

fire extinguisher resting horizontally thereon and in a position inwhich it may be readily grasped at the handle of said extinguisher andpulled off the vehicle quickly so as to beready for immediate use. a

With a construction of safety cradle or carrier of the type of myinvention, the handle for releasing or unlocking the movable outersection .or

member of the cradle is supported in a horizontal position by a suitablehook or the like, and in such position its outer end is sodisposed as tobe quite accessible outwardly of the vehicle, to be grasped andactuated'in the manner above described, and, when pulled, tosimultaneously release and shift the movable cradle member totheposition in which the fire extinguisher is horizontal with the handlethereof readilyavailable with which to pull the extinguisher off thevehicle in the manner previously mentioned. I

portant feature of my invention because in some instances it is obviousthat'thequickness with which the fire extinguisher may be removed fromthe tank vehicle may mean the saving of the vehicle once it has been setafire. I

My invention involves other details of cons'truction involving a'clamping feature on the cradle structure whereby to hold the fireextinguisher in place against rattling or loose mounting thereof, andthe employment of aspecial tilt arm which is designed to positivelytiltor 'rock the fire extinguisher to its outward hori- "zontal positionincidentto the unlocking of the 40 movable cradle section, and otherdetails,- the construction of which will appear more fully by referenceto the following detail descriptionin embodying the essential featuresof my invention, the operating handle for the movable cradle sectionbeing disposed in a horizontal position as when, the carrier is mountedupon a truck 'andtherefore readily accessible for the pull-out movementof the fire extinguisher on release of the locking means of said movablesection of the cradle.

Figure 2 is a view of the safety carrier looking toward the same fromthe right, as the carrier is seen in Figure 1, being a section on theline 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the carrier taken approximately on theline 33 of Figure 1, looking upwardly.

Figure 4 is a side view of the carrier similar to Figure 1, but showingthe outer cradle section rocked to its downward position assumed therebyafter it has been simultaneously unlocked and pulled outwardly, the fireextinguisher being shown disposed in its position ready to be pulled offof the carrier and put into use.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken about on the line 5-5 ofFigure 4, showing the adjustable spring clamping member used forengagement with the fire extinguisher mounted in the.

carrier for holding the extinguisher against loosen ness or rattlingmovement.

Referring now to my drawings and describing a preferred construction ofmy invention as illustrated therein, it is :noted that the carrier ofthe invention comprises'the inner stationary or fixed section generallydenoted "as A and comprising "primarily spaced upright angle members I,the

lower ends of which are connected by an angularly shaped base plate madein arcuateiform so as to conform with the sh pe of the lower ro en potion of the fire ext n uisher B which is seen inrl f ure-e of the drawngs.- fiaid base plate is de oted;-

At the upper portionthereof the ;sp aced memhers ;I of the fixed cradle,section ,A are :also rigidly connected by a-curve'd-or arc shapedcon-;nector bar :or plate designated 3. At the top of each of the members II provide a holding or seat plate 4 which seatsover the upper roundedend portion of the container in which the lfire extinguishing fluid is:received, such container being designated .13 as :previouslyidentified.

On the under side vof the angle shaped base plate 2 -,of .the section Aof my carrier I provide spaced horizontal brackets 5 which projectslightly outwardly from the plane of the fixed section Aandare aperturedto receive a pivot bolt or member --6. The :pivot bolt ormember .6passes through the inner ends of two brackets I which are attached tothe under side of the curved base member of the outer section C pf thecarrier or cradle, said base member 8 bei-ngsomewhat similarly-shaped asto arcuate form inplan view, as

the base or bottom member 2 of the fixed cradle section A. The sectionof the carrier is the movable section thereof and is adapted to swingoutwardly away from the section A. It is :made up of vertical anglemembers 9 similar to the angle shaped members I of the fixederadlemember A, :and the base member 78 rigidly connects these members 9together at their lower extremities, t gether with the bra k ts I actinguppleme al to the parts 8. lower ends .of the members 9 I provide across plate It which not only connects he member 9 rigidly together butforms a support for an arcuate shaped clamp member I i made of springmetal and curved to conform with the round outer surface of the fireextinguisher container .B. An adjustable screw I2, turnable by asuitable wrench, passes through the plate It and has a 1SC1 W threadoperating in a threaded opening in said plate or member I0, the clampingmem- Between the upper and ber II being swivelled onto the inner end ofsaid screw I2 and thus adapted to be pushed by the screw toward the fireextinguisher container B when clamping the latter in position againstthe fixed cradle section A of my carrier when the fire extinguisher issupported on the carrier with the extinguisher disposed vertically inposition locked in the carrier.

Near the upper end portions thereof, the fixed cradle members I, asbefore stated, are connected by the curved plate or bar 3. At one endthe bar 3 is formed with a half-looped portion 3a which allows space forpassage or holding therein of the hose which ordinarily leads from thefire extinguisher 'B. On opposite ends of the member 3 are providedhorizontal arms I3 which extend in a direction outwardly from themembers ,3 and the members I, in spaced relation, ieaclhgof the arms I3being equipped with an out wardly extending lock projection I4, seenbest in FiguresBand. 3 of the drawing.

.Pivotally mounted on the outer movable cradle section'C at a pointopposite the member 3 on the innerfcradle section A is a locking crankshaft I5, the crank of which is designated I511, and which .shaftis.mounted in bearings .IIS on the outerside portions of the members 9,.of:said cradle section C. vAt its ends the .crank orrocker shaft L5 isequipped with lockinghooks II which are adapted to engage .over thelocking projections IA of the .arms I3 by rocking .theshaft I5 inamanner to shift its crank arm 1.5a inwardly toward the upper portion ofthe section 9. .By pulling outwardly on the crank arm Ilia as seen inFigures 1 and .2, it is obvious that the rocking hoo s I] will roekedupwardly out of engagement with the projections I4. Connected with.thec-rankiarm portion I561 of the shaft 1.5, which arm portion isformed by bending the intermediate portion ,of the shaft I5, is a pullhandle I8 comprising a rod section IBa .directly attached to the memberIda. When the parts of my car-- rier are in the positions of Figures ,1,2, and 3, the handle rod IBaand its handle I8 will be disposedsubstantially horizontal and preferably supported by a hook carried bythe vehicle or tank truck on which thefire extinguisher carrier of myinvention is mounted. Thus the handle will extend outwardly toward oneside of the truck in ,a position for convenient reaching by the truckoperator in the event of the emergency of fire.

The entire carrier as above described by me, including the fixed sectionA and the movable sectionl and the other partsset forth is mounted sothat the fixed section A ,is attached to one side of the chassis-orframe of the tank truck or vehicle. For this purpose, on the inner orrear sides of the .members I of the fixed section A of the carrier orcradle I provide stationary lugs or plate members t9 apertured toreceive bolts by which-these members may be attached to the chassis-ofthe truck or a bracket of substantial nature on said chassis.

At the upper ends of the members I of the movable cradle section C, Iprovide plates 20 similar to andfor the same-purpose as the plates 4 atthe upper ends of the members I. At the lower end of the movable cradlesectionC, and supported by a cross plate 2,I adjacent to the parts orbrackets :I, is a combined tilt and stop arm designated 22, 22a asrespects the 'tilt portion thereof and 221) as respects the stopportion. Supported on the underside of the bracket parts 5 :of the fixed-,cradlemember ,is a cross member 23 which supports an adjustable limitor stop screw 24 disposed in'a horizontal normal position which itretains under all conditions of use, the inner end of the screw havingthe turning head and the outer .end thereof being adapted to engage withthe stop portion 22b of the combine'd tiltand stop arm when the movablecradle section C is pulled outwardlyso as to assume the horizontalposition illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. I H I V With the aboveconstruction of my invention in mind, the operation thereof maybereadily understood in conjunction with the following description. Asseen in Figure 1, when the fire extinguisher is mounted uponthe tanktruck, the cradle section A is rigidly attached to the chassis of thetruck as set forth. The fire extinguisher will be embraced or heldwithin the space between the cradle sections A and C, and will be lockedin place in a vertical position by the locking action of the lock hooksl1 engaging the lock projections 14, thus maintaining the cradle parts Aand C in vertical position preventing normal displacement of the fireextinguisher from the carrier. This is the condition of theextinguisher, and its ordinary position, during the regular travel ortransportation movement of the tank truck equipped with the cradlemeans'of my invention. The handle rod la and its handle l8 are disposedhorizontally extending outwardly from the side of the chassis of thevehicle to a convenient point where the handle [8 may be quickly graspedin case of fire. Assuming that the emergency takes place, the operatorcan quickly reach the side of the vehicle at which the fire extinguisheris disposed, and, by grabbing the handle l8, may pull outwardly on thehandle, thus rocking the crank arm l5a outwardly and downwardly, androcking the hook members I! upwardly and outwardly to disengage thesehook members from the lock projections 14. Thus the action of releasingor unlocking the fire extinguisher from the vertical position in whichit is held on my carrier, and'the pulling out of the movable section Cof the carrier, will take place substantially simultaneously. In theaction of pulling the section C outwardly, said section is of courserocked outwardly and downwardly about the pivot axis 6 previouslymentioned, and the bracket members 1 at the base of the section C rockor tilt the tilt and stop arm 22a-22b in an outward direction. Thebottom of the fire extinguisher rests upon the portion 22a of the tiltand stop arm so that as the section C of the cradle or carrier is movedoutwardly, the part 22a acting on the bottom of thefire extinguisher Bwill tend to shift the latter into an outward and downwardly locatedhorizontal'position, as illustrated in- Figure 4 of the drawings. Theoutward movement of the section C efiected on pulling the handle I8 islimited by the stop 22b engaging the screw 24 as self-evident. Thisposition, of course, brings the upper end of the extinguisher aspreviously disposed in its vertical position, some distance outwardlyfrom the chassis when the fire extinguisher reaches its horizontalposition, and the horizontal position of the extinguisher makes theupper end thereof readily available to be quickly grasped by theoperator to pull the extinguisher off the movable section of the cradleand put it into immediate use.

' As a minor detail of the invention, the parts 20 which are previouslyreferred to herein may be connected by a cross web 20a integraltherewith so that they constitute a single plate as dis- '6 tinguishedfrom the members 4 which are sepa; rately formed and attached each tothe upper end' of one of the parts of the fixed cradle member A. v

By use of the members 20-2011, it will be seen that when the cradlemember is pulled to the position of Figure 4, the fire extinguisher willnot immediately slide off of thecarrier member C but will be retained inplace ready to be pulled off by bodily outward and lifting movement.

In Figure 1 the fire extinguisher carrier of my invention is shownsecured to a bracket 25 on the truck, and pull handle rod [8a is shownheld in normal horizontal position by hook 26 attached to the truck andengaging handle I8.

tinguisher may be supported, means supporting the movable section torock outwardly from the fixed section, lock means normally to hold saidsections in vertical positions to hold an extinguisher therebetween, andmeans to rock the movable section to a position to deliver theextinguisher to a removing position.

2. A fire extinguisher carrier comprising, in combination, a fixedcradle section, and a movable cradle section between which a fireextinguisher may be supported, means supporting the movable section torock outwardly from the fixed section, lock means normally to hold saidsections in vertical positions to hold an extinguisher therebetween, andmeans to pull the movable section and to unlock said lock means andalsorock the movable section to a position to deliver the extinguisher to aremoving position. I

3. A carrier as claimed in claim 1, combined with a tilt arm operable bythe movable section to shift an extinguisher located between thesections to a horizontal delivery position as the movable section isrocked outwardly.

4. A carrier as claimed in claim 1, combined with a tilt arm operable bythe movable section to shift an extinguisher located between thesections to a horizontal delivery position when the movable section ispulled outwardly, and a stop .on one of the sections to coact with saidtilt arm to limit the rocking movement of the movable cradle section.

5. A fire extinguisher carrier comprising, in combination, a fixedcradle section, and a movable cradle section between which a fireextinguisher may be supported, means supporting the movable section torock outwardly from the fixed section, lock means normally to hold saidsections in vertical positions to hold an extinguisher therebetween, andmeans to simultaneously pull the movable section and to unlock said lockmeans and also rock the movable section to a position to deliver theextinguisher to a removing position.

6. A carrier as claimed in claim 1, combined with a combined tilt andstop arm on the movable section to forcibly move an extinguisher in thecarrier to an outwardly extending position and limit the rockingmovement of the movable section. V

'7. A carrier as claimed in claim 1, each section having a bottomsupporting part for an extinguisher placed between the sections, andhaving vertical members in spaced relation;

8. A fire extinguisher carrier comprising, in

combination, a fixed cra/dle section, and a movable cradle sectionbetween which a fire extinguisher may be supported, means supporting themovable section to rock outwardly from the fixed section, lock meansnormally to hold said sections in vertical positions to hold anextinguisher therebetween, and a handle common to the movable sectionand lock means to unlock the lock means and to rock the movable sectionto a delivery position.

9. A carrier as claimed in claim 1, combined with a tilt and stop arm onthe movable section to shift a fire extinguisher supported by thecarrier, to a horizontal'position, When the movable section isrockedvanda memberon the fixed cradle section to engage the stop arm-to supportthe movable section "in a horizontal position.

HARVEY C. FOWLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

